Embrace our environment and learn more about living a greener lifestyle! Our planet's environmental health is not only a global issue, but one that sits in our own backyard. The Village of Arlington Heights has always been led by an innovative Board that plans for tomorrow. Because of this, challenges have been anticipated and careful planning was done throughout the years to address some of the environmental and geographic challenges facing the Village.

Arlington Heights’ commitment to being a sustainable community is demonstrated through its development of programs that ensure the preservation of resources for future generations. Past endeavors have included a wide array of projects that have proven both cost effective and successful. These projects, coupled with an ongoing effort to seek out new programs that promote sustainability, have established the Village of Arlington Heights at the forefront of the sustainability movement.

Past years have seen the completion of projects that included the replacement of High Pressure Sodium Fixtures to Light Emitting Diode (LED) street lighting, LED traffic signals, parking garage deck lighting, a small solar power producing building, the installation of solar powered warning sirens and multiple recycling programs. In our Water and Sewer pump facilities alone, Water Production staff has retrofitted a total of 19 pump houses, rooms, pipe galleries or wet-well pits with energy efficient LED light fixtures.

Aircraft Noise Complaints

Aircraft noise complaints include all complaints submitted via telephone to the O'Hare Noise Hotline or via an online form. The complaints are then forwarded to the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) for tracking purposes only and are included as data in the Airport Noise Management System reports.

Submit Complaint via Telephone
The CDA maintains a toll-free noise hotline (1-800-435-9569 for suburban communities or 311 within the City of Chicago) for citizens to express their concern about particular aircraft events or aircraft noise levels in general.

Submit Complaint via Online Form
The City of Chicago launched a webpage where complaints may be entered directly online. The link below leads to the City's 311 System where one can fill in information about a noise event.

Municipal Separate Storm Water Sewer System Permit

Under the 1987 Clean Water Act Amendments, the USEPA developed new regulations to address storm water that might impact water quality. These new "Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System” (MS4) regulations were set up in two phases dependent upon population and are enforced by the USEPA.
The General Storm Water Permit for MS4s was reissued on February 10, 2016, and became effective on March 1, 2016. These reissued permits outline the following requirements on MS4 permit holders:

Develop Storm Water Management Program
Develop a storm water management program comprised of best management practice BMPs and measureable goals for each of the following six minimum control measures:

Public education and outreach on storm water impacts

Public involvement and participation

Illicit discharge detection and elimination

Construction site storm water runoff control

Post construction storm water management in new development & redevelopment

Pollution prevention/good housekeeping for municipal operations

Submit Notice of Intent
Submit a completed Notice of Intent. Operators can choose to share responsibilities for meeting the Phase II program requirements. Those entities choosing to do so may submit jointly with other municipalities or governmental entities.

Submit Annual Reports
The permittee must submit annual reports to the Agency by June 1st for each year that the permit is in effect. The report must include:

The status of compliance with the permit conditions, including an assessment of the BMPs and progress toward the measurable goals

Results of any information collected and analyzed, including monitoring data

A summary of the storm water activities planned for the next reporting cycle

A change in any identified best management practices or measurable goals

If applicable, notice of relying on another governmental entity to satisfy some of the permit obligations

The regulations generally switch the focus for compliance inspection and enforcement to the governing Village. The regulations also focus on public and contractor education. The issue of education falls to the Village to perform and document. In 2015, the Village passed a comprehensive illicit discharge ordinance. This ordinance formalizes our clean water practices and is key to the governance of the new MS4 permit.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination SystemThe National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) has its origin in the Federal Clean Water Act. The program requires permits for the discharge of treated municipal effluent, treated industrial effluent and storm water. The permits establish the conditions under which the discharge may occur and establish monitoring and reporting requirements.

The Village maintains NPDES Permit Number ILM580006. This permit is for the combined sewer overflow connected to the Village’s Combined Sewer System. The overflow is located at the head water of Weller Creek, near Central Road within Mount Prospect.

The Public Works Department submits an annual report detailing the previous year’s operations and maintenance to our Combined Sewer System. In the event of an overflow into Weller Creek, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) will respond and notify the proper governing agencies.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) has its origin in the Federal Clean Water Act. The program requires permits for the discharge of treated municipal effluent, treated industrial effluent and storm water. The permits establish the conditions under which the discharge may occur and establish monitoring and reporting requirements. The Village maintains NPDES Permit Number ILM580006. This permit is for the combined sewer overflow connected to the Village’s Combined Sewer System. The overflow is located at the head water of Weller Creek, near Central Road within Mount Prospect.

The Public Works Department submits an annual report detailing the previous year’s operations and maintenance to our Combined Sewer System. In the event of an overflow into Weller Creek, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) will respond and notify the proper governing agencies.